Dear colleagues and friends of ACEL ACT,
Welcome to the 2026 school year.
As President of the ACT Branch it is a great privilege to contribute to the vision and mission of ACEL and to contribute the critical role this peak organisation plays in harnessing the collective wisdom of our profession in transforming the future and the complex challenges facing educational leaders and the young people we serve in each of our sectors. I am very grateful to the Branch Executive who are so generous with their time in organising local events and activities that serve the educational leadership demands of busy professionals in the ACT.
I am heartened by the variety and depth of leadership exemplars that represent the work and aspiration of each of our sectors. This was so generously demonstrated at our 2025 ACT Awards ceremony in October at which we celebrated the largest number of awardees in the history of the ACT. Please note that the National Office will be opening the 2026 Awards nominations on 18 February and closing these on 25 March, so please consider those colleagues whom you would like to esteem for their professional practice during 2025 and ensure that you nominate them.
Once again this year, I will be inviting you to contribute an editorial piece for our monthly newsletter so if you would like to write about a leadership initiative or success in your school, or in System leadership, please write to me at principal@sfx.act.edu.au
I hope that you have had a great beginning to the year and if I - or any member of the Branch Executive - may be of assistance please don’t hesitate to make contact.